Sterilizer



Sept. 16 i924.

R. E. KLETT STEHILIZER Filed Sent, 23 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Snom/Lto@ M15 //tr' @ttor/nog i Sept. 16 1924. 1,508,799

R. E. KLETT STERILIZER Filed Sent. 23, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mwm Patented Sept. 16, 1924.

Application led September 23, 1922.

To all wlwm. it may cmwem:

Be it known that I, Roann'r E. Knm'r, citizen of the United States, and resident of Ridgefield Park, in the coun iof Bergen 6 and State of New Jersey, have invented cerdevices and more especially to 'sterilizers stances. One object is heatedis vla 3 current from allowing the heat Im rovements in Sterfo lowing vvis la specifitain new and useful ilizers, of which the cation.

This invention relates to electric heating such as used by doctors and dentists for the sterlization of small d h h f hyp ermic-sy es, an :teeatingfo small quantitiesmcilfgmedicinesv andrethei' subto icrease'the fconvemence of operating such a ydevice through doing away with thejus'ualcontrol switch by making the switch controllin automatic in`o ration as the o ject to be on orV taken od'A the heater. Another o ject resides in the provision of a compact arrangement of a heater in conjunction with and adjacenty a rack for holdlng several of the instruments or materials most frequently 1' 4 The usual sterilizing devices of this type are objectionable because of the waste of time necessary to turned' the switch when the heating is completed or else the waste of to continue after the heated object has been removed. This invention removes these the provision of an automatic switch which closes the heater circuit as soon as the object is placed in cooperation with the heater and which opens when that object is removed. Another objection has been the diiiiculty in telling from a distance whether or not the currentis on. The doctor, while busy with a patient, may want to be sure that his assistant has stopped the heating of some rnaterial in reparation and be sure the current is o'. lith this invention a mere glance at the heater will tell if the current is on or of and this is possible without the trouble of looking at a switch to see whether it is in its proper position because the object to be hea acts as a signal to tell when the current is on and when not.

For purposes of illustration this invention is shown embodied in a device having a heatin coil substantially vertically disposed an open at the top 1n order that the object to be heated may be placed within thecoil. To prevent needless loss of heat instruments, ,suchas zthevcoil glves the lheater a the heater diliiculties by 1 Serial No. 590,003.

the coil is well lagged on the sides and bottom. A support f r the heated object is placed above and around the heater. Instead of the usual switch, a pair of contacts are located' adjacent this support and are adapted to' be, bridged by a conductor attached-to the heated object or its holder. Removing the heated object automatically breaks the circuit while rplacing it on the heaterlsimultaneously closes the supply circuit without the need of turning a separate switch. enclosing casing surroundingT neatly finished appearance. Mounted on the supporting base of the heater and to one side 1s a rack adapted to receive a plurality of the objects to heated, such as test tubes, hypodermic syrlnges and small liquid containers for the "ane'sthetics and other medicines required to be heated.

.Referrin view part heater, y

Fig.'2 is afront view of the same device and also has parts broken away,

Fig. 3 is1 a` section of one of the liquid containers or objects to be heated,

Fig. V4 shows a bottom view of the object shownV in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a perspective of another of the objects to be heated which is shown in Fig. as being in cooperation with the heater,

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the heater with parts broken away,

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the base member of the heater,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the holder shown in Fi 5,

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of a evice shown in Fig. 8, and

Fi 10 is a conventional the e ectric circuit.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 11 indicates a coil of wire constituting the heatin element which is supported by member 12 ol heat and electric insulating material. A wrapper 13 of asbestos or other appropriate lag 'ng may surround the member 12 and be eld in place by means of a bindin wire 13 or otherwise. The bottom of the heating coil is closed by member 14 of the same general material as the member 12 and is sup orted on the base 15 of the apparatus. urrounding the upper portion of the member 12 is the ledge 18 in cooperation to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side '1n section `of the improved representation of v lug 27 adapted to fit in the cutawaylpoiition diepbsitioynlshovrn 'in `1Twhen`th 'cirwith a corresponding ledge or ilange 17 on the ring member 16 which is heldin position by means of bolts 19. Two of the olts 19 are headed at 2O to provide contacts adapted t0 be bridged by the conductor 2 6 secured to the underside of the base 22 of the holder for the test tube 21 or other object to be heated. Secured to the base 2 2 of the holder byscrews V32 lor other fastening means is a metal ,plate plate 31 and projecting porting column 23 provided v,iivth a convenient handle 24 preferably of heatl insulating material so that the holderv mayibevlifted even though the column 23 become' hot. T Yieldable clips 25 adapted to retain atest tube are also secured to the column 23. The l, conductor 26 forv P is secured to the underside of the base 2,2,of the holder and is shown clearly in.,Ffigsli v and 9, as .being provided witha.uprojacting-A above itis the `Sup- 30 of the ring shaped member 16 and-thus;- insure the contacts 2O being in coopeation `with the conductor 26. The rin "shaped member 16 is shown in Figs. 1 an 64 as being provided with an opstanding ledge within which the cutaway portion29 of the base of the holder is adapted to be Vreceivedfig The underside of the heater base lfnay; he recessed and two of the bolts 19:*may be provided with additional nuts serving to.H clamp wiring leads. An insulating `disc 342".

may enclose the recessed `bottom portion ofme the base member 15 and is held in positionfl by a metal disc 35 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. Also secured to the base mem-' ber 15 is a post 36 cooperating at the top, with a socket 37 having yieldahle sides which in turn supports the plate.38 and enables the plate to be given a desired anv gular adjustment. The plate 38 is shown' as adapted to receive a number of instruments or other objects to be heated, such,

for example as needles 40 and the test tube.y 39 in which a syringe 41 may bc placed.

The sides of the plate 38 are shaped to form annular ledges 42 and 43 on which the base 22 of the holders are adapted to rest. Bv providing;r the gaps 4S in the ledges 42 and 43, the base 22 of a holder may rest uponthe flange formed by its reduced lower portion 29 and allow the guide lugs 27 to be positioned Within the gaps 4R. Y

Another form of object to be heated is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as comprising the dish 44 of porcelain or other antiseptic material for containing the anesthetic or other desired liquid. A ring' shaped member44 is adapted to support the receptacle 44 and is provided with a handle 47. in place of the guide lug 27. From Fig. 4 it will be seen that the bottom of the member 44* is also provided with contacts 45 and conductor 46 adapted to bridge the previously deenea gelul scribed contacts 20. From Fig. 10 ,itmay be seen that the electricI circuit is as follows. From one of the incoming leads 49 upithrough one of the bolts and thence through the bridging conductor 26 or 45 as the case maybe. down through the other contact bolt 19 tl`irough the heating coil 11 r`to kthe:li'irit`lirxgr`postlpll and out the otherof lesa-Pelt' leeds? .i Ink'oplration the heater is particularly simplelbecaufsefno Vflilsual syvitch is necessary tojiilrrlovr'i'A orf'of thelcurrent, hut'Lthe oontrolling iskautoir'i'atic inaction and is formed'bythe'bridging conductor 26, securedytobthre .under sidewoV the holderfbeing ject toll?? healed iS riiiril E'intof position. lf

bridging ythe Acontact`st'2() fonexampleitl,isdesireilftdfsteriliae v asyrryatei'r' and the" holder and tube fror'igone 'of the ledges l42 or 43 into tiuitf,` iS- .llllrfltially closedf 'and the heater saintes-.T Mxfhei-ed @flaw 'swilizing process,A insteadof stopping totu'rn a switch, Ythe holdejland syringe *mayo be f removed b v graspifi the handle andpll'acing the holder onfone ofthfledges'42 and* 43 and `th'i1 s`au finatically opening" the circuit of the heater to save electric'current as Ysoon as the holde'ris"removedffrom :its ,position v shoyvn, in Fig. I.; 'I liesame convenience of opftion'pertaiiis vgith'regrd to the holdr .all 1 1, #L Amongtliefadvantges ofthe present inventionfniay j be mentioned its lconvenience ofoperation andsaving in ltimerequired t6 turn the'. switch or the saving in cost of energy through forgetting to turn olf the current. `The heater is of ldurable construction and made in" a neat and compact arrangement -to economize space. 'The instrument receiving plate 38 located adjacent. the heateris another item enhancing the convenience tofoperation of the heater. lf de- Vsired fan enclosing casing 51 of metal or other siiitalle 1material nfay surround the heater. Having the heating object of general cylindrical shape and adapted to extend down into the heating 'oil enables the heat to be transmitted efiieientlizwhile the use'of heat insulating;r material sur'r'oun'dinc the coil on three sides prevents needless radiation losses. It will thus be seen that the object to be heated. whether it be the test. tube and syringe or the small liquid container. is adapted to function asa signal indicating whether or not the current is on. A practitionen need onlygive a glance at the sterilizer when heran tell whether his assistant has removed the heated object from the sterilizer and Will in that way be sure that the circuit controlling switch is as he Wants it. The use of the rack secured adjacent the heater furnishes a compact arrangement for lll) holding a number of instruments or materials conveniently close to the sterilizer.

While this invention has been illustrated in a small sterilizer for doctors and dentists, it will be understood that it may be embodied in other forms of heaters and is not therefore limited to such small sterilizers of the class illustrated.

I claim:

1. The combination with an electric heater, of an object to be heated thereby, a contact adjacent the heater adapted to support said object, and a conductor supportmg said object on said contact, held in engagement with said contact under the weight of said object, secured to the object, and removable from the heater therewit 1.

2. The combination with an electric heater, of an object to be heated thereby, a pair of contacts adjacent the heater to support said object, a. conductor supporting said object on said contacts, held in engagement with said contacts under the weight of said object secured to the object and re-` movable from the heater therewith, and guiding means for directing movement of said object into the heater and for positioning the conductor for engagement with said contacts.

3. The combination with an electric heater of an object to be heated thereby, a pair of contacts non-yieldably fixed adjacent the heater, adapted to support said object, and a conductor sup ortlng said object on said contacts, hel in engagement with said contacts under the weight of said object to close the heater circuit, secured to the object and removable from the heater therewith.

4. The combination with an electric heater of an object to be heated thereby, a holder for the object while on the heater, a pair of contacts adjacent the heater adapted to support said holder and object, a conductor on said holder supporting the same on said contacts to close t e heater circuit and removable with said holder from said heater.

'5, An electric heater comprising in combination a helical heating coil with its axis vertical, a heat and electric insulating supporting member enclosing said coil on the sides and bott-om, an object to be heated adapted to be inserted within the coil, a pair of contacts outside the coil, a conductor adapted to bridge the contacts and close an electric circuit through the coil, a support for the object to be heated to which said conductor is secured, and means for retaining said support in position with the conductor closing said circuit.

6. The combination with a vertically disposed heating coil, of a heat insulating support surrounding said heating coil on the sides and bottom, an enclosing casing spaced from and surrounding said support, a base member to which said support and casing are secured, a container adapted to be placed within the coil, a container support provided with a handle of heat insulating material, a pair of contacts between the coil support and enclosing easing, a conductor secured to the container support and adapted to bridge said contacts and control said heater, a supporting stand secured to said base member and adapted to receive said container and its support when removed from the heater.

7. An electric sterilizer for hypodermic needles and the like comprising a heating coil, heat insulatin material surroundin said coil on the si es and bottom, the coil being open on to Y to permit the insertion of the object to e heated, a support surroundin said coil and adapted to hold said object w ile being heated, and a supporting rack secured adjacent the heater and adapted to contain said object when removed from the heater.

8. An electric sterilizer comprisin a heating coil lagged on the sides and liottom and open on the top for the insertion of an object to be heated, a support surrounding said coil and provided with guide means adapted to center the heated object with respect to the coil, and a supporting stand connected with and adjacent the heater for carrying such object when removed from the heater.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 19th day of September A. D. 1922.

ROBERT E. KLETT. 

